Nigeria Secure Release Of 3 Pilgrims Arrested For Alleged Drug Trafficking In Saudi Arabia

The Nigerian authorities has secured the merchandise of 3 pilgrims detained successful Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since past period pursuing their apprehension implicit alleged cause trafficking.

The 3 Nigerians who were freed by the Saudi Arabia authorities aft 4 weeks successful custody see Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddieq.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi disclosed astatine a property league connected Wednesday successful Abuja, stating that their state followed weeks of relentless engagements by the chairman/chief enforcement of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (rtd) with the enactment of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) successful Saudi Arabia.

Babafemi added that the engagement had the afloat enactment of President Bola Tinubu and the assistance of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.

NDLEA’s spokesperson besides revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar and his Aviation and Aerospace Development counterpart, Mr. Festus Keyamo arsenic good arsenic the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu besides backed the negotiations to escaped the detained Nigerians.

It would beryllium recalled that a syndicate operating astatine the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) Kano, had tagged bags containing illicit drugs with the names of the 3 unsuspecting Nigerians who travelled connected an Ethiopian Airline formation ET940 which departed Kano connected August 6, 2025 to Jeddah connected lesser hajj.

The victims were aboriginal arrested successful Saudi Arabia for alleged cause trafficking.

Following complaints to the NDLEA president by the families of the 3 victims aft the completion of their lesser hajj implicit allegation of trafficking successful illicit substances, an probe was launched to unravel the incident.

According to the anti-narcotic agency, the probe led to the apprehension of 55-year-old cause kingpin Mohammed Ali Abubakar alias Bello Karama and 3 different members of the syndicate, including the hose officials down the shipment of the illicit substances for which the 3 guiltless pilgrims were arrested and detained successful Jeddah.

Charges had since been filed against Abubakar and different members of the syndicate including Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, Abdulbasit Adamu Sagagi and Jazuli Kabir.

Babafemi revealed that equipped with the result of NDLEA probe and charges against members of the syndicate arsenic good arsenic different evidences to beryllium the innocence of the pilgrims, Marwa engaged with his Saudi Arabian counterpart successful compliance with President Tinubu’s docket that nary Nigerian indispensable endure unjustly successful a overseas land.

Following the bid of engagements, 1 of the 3 Nigerians was released from custody connected Sunday 14th September and the remaining 2 connected Monday 15th September, 2025.

Expressing happiness implicit the development, Gen. Marwa commended his counterpart astatine the Saudi GDNC for upholding the essence of the Memorandum of Understanding betwixt the NDLEA and GDNC connected collaboration and partnership.

“The biggest enactment of our effort connected this lawsuit came from President Tinubu who is committed to ensuring that each Nigerian gets their deserved respect and just attraction wherever they are crossed the world.

“And that is what has travel to play successful this case, that nary Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they cognize thing astir anyplace successful the world,” helium said.

Marwa commended the assistance provided by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Fagbemi; Amb. Tuggar and Keyamo, arsenic good arsenic the NSA, Mallam Ribadu, “who were with america each the mode connected the matter.”